Sovereign Hill has been wowing audiences for almost 38 years. Generations of Australians and overseas visitors have experienced our recreated 1850s Goldfields Township where real gold flows in the creek and history comes alive. Sovereign Hill’s commitment to authenticity and value for money is what makes it one of the best family tourist attractions in the world. Step back in time and discover why….
STRIKING GOLD AT SOVEREIGN HILL
Australia’s foremost outdoor museum – Sovereign Hill recreates Ballarat’s first ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851 when thousands of international fortune-hunters rushed to the Australian goldfields in search of riches.
By day, Sovereign Hill is where Australia’s history comes to life! It’s just like stepping back in time – from the hustle and bustle of Main Street where costumed ladies and gents parade their new-found wealth, to the excitement of the Red Hill Gully Diggings where you can pan for REAL gold.
At Sovereign Hill, you can see a spectacular $50,000 gold pour, venture underground on a fully-guided gold mine tour, or catch a horse-drawn coach and tour the Township. There are working shops, hotels, schools, a theatre, crafts, a wheelwright, a candlemaker, a confectioner and steam-driven machinery.
On their streets and in their theatre, you will be entertained by costumed goldfield characters who are happy to pose for a great photo!
By night, Sovereign Hill presents its spectacular, multi-million dollar sound-and-light show, Blood on the Southern Cross, the dramatic story of the 1854 Eureka Uprising.
Sovereign Hill’s commitment to authenticity and value-for-money family entertainment saw us judged Victoria’s Major Tourist Attraction at the 2003 and 2004 Victorian Tourism Awards.
| Additional Information | |||
| Comfort Inn Sovereign Hill Comfort Inn Sovereign Hill offers modern, on-site motel-style accommodation. |
Blood on the Southern Cross This attraction is an explosive multi-million dollar sound-and-light show like nothing you’ve ever seen before! |
||
| Click here for more info | Click here for more info | ||
| Gold Museum Discover the beauty and power of gold as you view an impressive and valuable collection of gold items. |
Shopping Shopping at Sovereign Hill is a unique experience! |
||
| Click here for more info | Click here for more info | ||
| Visitors Services The site offers a range of visitor facilities for everyone including for visitors with special needs. |
Visitors Map / What to Expect Visitor information, accommodation, shows, souvenirs and gift locations. |
||
| Click here for more info | Click here for more info |
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Steam Operations at Sovereign Hill
Sovereign Hill’s Steam Operations is a carefully researched reconstruction of a late nineteenth-century quartz mine’s surface operations. It was put together during Sovereign Hill’s first decade with great care and commitment by many people – museum and technical professionals and steam enthusiasts with backgrounds in machinery trades – using original pieces gathered from many parts of Australia.
Sovereign Hill’s Horses
Horses are a special part of the experience of visiting Sovereign Hill. Horses were a rich part of the sounds and smells of Ballarat’s diggings and Main Road during the fantastic days of the gold rushes of the 1850s. In those days, horses were the main way of powering vehicles, transporting people and goods and driving farming and mining machinery (such as the puddler and the whim in Sovereign Hill’s diggings).
Sovereign Hill’s horses are working horses. You can see them in teams of two, four or more pulling a variety of vehicles – coaches, carriages, lorries, wagons, and drags.
EDUCATION PROGRAM
Victoria’s 1850s goldrush heritage is alive, exciting and very hands-on at Sovereign Hill with creative, stimulating, and interactive experiences for school students and kindergarten classes.
Students experience Sovereign Hill indoors, outdoors, above-ground and below-ground, giving a tremendous variety for school excursions and ensuring an action-packed, fun day.
FUNCTIONS
Conferences:
Escape the city and enjoy a unique environment for your next conference!
With eight function rooms at two locations, our facilities accommodate from 2 to 200 guests. Group Dining and Special Occasions:
From formal award dinners to private celebrations, let us do all the hard work, to ensure your event is a complete success!
Weddings:
Your Wedding Day will be truly memorable, held at one of our outstanding venues including, The New York Bakery at Sovereign Hill and The Garden Room at Narmbool.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Strike Gold with a Sovereign Hill Birthday Party for your child!
Sovereign Hill birthday parties are fun for everyone! There are plenty of activities to keep the children entertained, and you can choose from two great value party packages.
A day spent at Sovereign Hill is a great way to entertain your child’s birthday guests. They have gold panning, coach rides, underground mine tours (including a thrilling train ride), a spectacular gold pour, a popular sweet store and factory, a goldfields school, a Redcoat soldiers parade, horse-shoeing, steam-powered machinery and much more!
Choose from these two great value birthday packages!
The Digger’s Party
Bring the children to Sovereign Hill for the day and they’ll reserve a lunch table and provide the food: nuggets, chips, party pies and a juice box.
Gold Fever Adventure
Bring the children to Sovereign Hill for the day and Sovereign Hill’s Party Host will take you on a fun-filled 2-hour tour with lunch and loads of activities. They’ll reserve a lunch table and provide the food: nuggets, chips, party pies and a juice box.
Nine-pin bowling, goldpanning and a horse and coach ride are guaranteed to keep everyone entertained. Children watch the sweet maker at work and visit the candle factory to make a colourful dipped candle to take home.
Age of Children
5-12 years. Minimum Numbers – 8 children (includes 2 adults free).
Party Dates
Party bookings are available on weekends and Victorian school holidays.
Supervision
Adults must accompany and supervise children at all times.
Clothing
Sovereign Hill represents the 1850s goldfields. They have a creek, hills and gravel pathways. They suggest children wear flat shoes and dress for outdoor conditions.